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Question 1
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A 38-year-old musician presented with a two-day history of sudden-onset occipital headache associated with nausea and vomiting. The next day, his right hand became weak for a few hours. On the same day he had an episode of sensory disturbance in his right upper limb consisting of tingling in his hand that spread up the arm, to his shoulder lasting less than two minutes in total. On the day of admission he had a similar episode of sensory disturbance lasting 30 seconds in total. On examination he had bilateral papilledema, no neck stiffness and an otherwise normal neurological examination. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
Your Answer: Venous sinus thrombosis
Explanation:Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is associated with headache (>90% of cases), seizures, focal weakness (40%) and papilledema (40%), all seen in this patient.
Risk factors for CVST include genetic or acquired prothrombotic disorders, pregnancy, the oral contraceptive pill, vasculitis, malignancy, dehydration and infection. However, there are multiple other associated factors.
Diagnosis is normally confirmed with magnetic resonance venography (MRV). Treatment is with anticoagulation, initially with heparin and subsequently with warfarin. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Nervous System
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Question 2
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A patient was given Penicillin G pre-operatively. Which of the following procedures was he waiting for?
Your Answer: Splenectomy
Explanation:Asplenic patients are at a high risk of fulminant sepsis which is usually caused by capsulated organisms such as Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzas and Neisseria meningitides. So all the patients who are awaiting splenectomy should be given antibiotic prophylaxis. (Penicillin, if allergy to Penicillin, Clarithromycin)
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Emergency & Critical Care
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Question 3
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A 64-year-old female presents with sudden onset pain, swelling and stiffness in her right knee. Her medical history is significant for osteoarthritis affecting her hand joints and diet controlled diabetes mellitus. On examination, the right knee is swollen, erythematous and tender. Which of the following tests would be most useful in the diagnosis of this case?
Your Answer: Aspiration and examination of the synovial fluid
Explanation:Arthrocentesis should usually be done when there is a suspicion of pseudogout or septic arthritis as in this case which leads to an early diagnosis and prompt treatment. Polarized microscopy demonstrates weakly positively birefringent rhomboid crystals which are blue when parallel to light and yellow when perpendicular to light. Elevated serum uric acid levels that cause gout are usually found after large consumption of alcohol or meat, or post surgery. Autoimmune diseases like SLE, RA etc require an autoimmune screen.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Musculoskeletal System
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Question 4
Incorrect
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A 60-year-old man suffers from depression, poor concentration and inability to sleep. A few months earlier, he had a few episodes of debauchery and tantrums. Which drug is most likely to benefit him?
Your Answer: Desipramine
Correct Answer: Carbamazepine
Explanation:Carbamazepine would be the drug of choice in this case because it is an anti-convulsant. It helps to restore the normal levels of nerve activity in the brain.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pharmacology
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Question 5
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A 35-year-old female with chronic pelvic pain, was recently diagnosed with PID. She was prescribed doxycycline. After 2 days she returned with complaints of abdominal bloating, nausea and regurgitation. Which of the following advice should be given to her?
Your Answer: Take Doxycycline after meals
Explanation:Doxycycline is known to cause dyspeptic symptoms. So advising to take Doxycycline after meals is important. Taking with meals or adding an antacid is not advised, as both will cause reduction in drug absorption.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pharmacology
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Question 6
Incorrect
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A 76-year-old woman attends the Emergency Department after knocking her shin on some furniture at home. She takes prednisolone for polymyalgia rheumatica. You examine her leg and find a pretibial laceration with a large skin flap. Which of the following is the best way to manage this?
Your Answer: Clean the laceration and apply a non adherent dressing
Correct Answer: Clean then steristrip the laceration
Explanation:In young patients with good skin, pre-tibial lacerations may be sutured, usually with non-absorbable sutures that are removed after 7-10 days. In elderly patients with thin skin, or those on warfarin or steroids, the skin is frequently too fragile to suture. For these patients the wound should be thoroughly cleaned and meticulously steristripped to best aid skin healing. A non-adherent dressing and a light bandage can be applied and the patient should be encouraged to elevate the leg. Patients should be reviewed after a week. The laceration may take many months to heal and some require skin grafting procedures.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Emergency & Critical Care
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Question 7
Incorrect
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A 27-year-old lady presents with severe morning headaches associated with nausea. Head MRI reveals a large compressive tumour arising from the falx cerebri. The tumour is well delineated. What is the most probable diagnosis?
Your Answer: Low-grade glioma
Correct Answer: Meningioma
Explanation:Meningiomas are the most common benign tumours of the brain. Their name is derived from the fact that they arise from the dura mater which together with the pia matter and arachnoid mater form the meninges. The chances that a meningioma is benign are almost 98%. They are non-invasive and well delineated, causing sign and symptoms of brain compression.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Nervous System
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Question 8
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A 28-year-old woman presents with painful genital ulceration. She reports that these attacks have been recurrent over the past 4 years. She has been treated previously with oral acyclovir but this has had little effect on the duration of her symptoms. Over the past year, she has noticed almost weekly attacks of mouth ulcers that heal slowly. Past medical history is significant for treatment of thrombophlebitis two years ago. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
Your Answer: Behcet's syndrome
Explanation:Behçet disease is a rare vasculitic disorder that is characterized by a triple-symptom complex of recurrent oral aphthous ulcers, genital ulcers, and uveitis. The systemic manifestations can be variable. Ocular disease has the greatest morbidity, followed by vascular disease generally from active vasculitis. Cutaneous manifestations can occur in up 75% of patients with Behcet disease and can range from acneiform lesions, to nodules and erythema nodosum. GI manifestations can be severe. Differentiating Behçet disease from active inflammatory bowel disease can be clinically difficult. Herpes would have ideally responded to acyclovir. Sarcoidosis does not have genital and oral ulcerations.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Musculoskeletal System
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Question 9
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A 55-year-old man develops central abdominal pain a few hours after having an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) performed. Investigations reveal the following:
Amylase 545 u/dl
Erect chest x-ray Normal heart and lungs. No free air noted
What is the most appropriate management?Your Answer: Intravenous fluids + analgesia
Explanation:A very common complication after ERCP is post-ERCP pancreatitis, which based on the clinical scenario , this man has. The treatment for this is pain control, lots of intravenous fluids, and traditionally bowel rest, although more recent evidence suggests early feeding is better.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Hepatobiliary System
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Question 10
Correct
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A 60-year-old man with known ulcerative colitis and diverticular disease comes to clinic complaining of passing faeces per urethra. Cystoscopy confirms a fistula between his bladder and bowel.
Which treatment is most likely to be effective?Your Answer: surgery
Explanation:The best treatment for a colovesicular fistula is surgery. This is the only definitive treatment. If the patient is a poor surgical candidate, there can be an attempt to manage them non-operatively, but this is absolutely NOT the MOST EFFECTIVE therapy.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Gastrointestinal System
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SESSION STATS - PERFORMANCE PER SPECIALTY
